Amtsturm-Museum Lüchow

About the museum

The brick tower in the Amtsgarten is the corner bastion of a four-winged castle from the second half of the 15th century. It served as the widow's seat of the duchesses of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and later as an administrative seat, and it fell victim to a town fire in 1811. Only the 22-meter tower, with walls up to 3.5 meters thick, survived; it was at once a fortification, a residence and a prison.

In 1930 the first district museum was set up in the tower. The collection is run by the Wendländischer Geschichts- und Altertumsverein (Wendland history and antiquities society), founded in 1905, while the tower belongs to the town of Lüchow. The exhibition in the tower ranges from prehistory and excavations through medieval Lüchow to the duchesses and their castle; at the top, the walkway offers a panoramic view over the town.

The 2025 redesign added a second site: a historic building ensemble of two half-timbered houses, restored in keeping with heritage protection, between Johannisstraße and the Amtsturm, which also houses the Tourist-Info Lüchow. Across two floors it covers power, wars and their consequences in the border region, the old and new town, and the coexistence of German and Slavic-descended populations in the Wendland.

Highlights

• 22-meter Amtsturm, remnant of the Lüchow castle, with panoramic view
• Social, economic and political history of the Wendland in the new museum building
• The duchesses of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and their dower seat
• Prehistory and excavations from the Wendland
• A combined ticket for both exhibition sites (about 50 m apart)

Permanent exhibitions

• Ausstellung im Museumsgebäude – Social, economic and political history of the Wendland in two restored half-timbered houses, covering themes such as power and wars in the border region, the old and new town, and the castle with its residents.
• Ausstellung im Amtsturm – Prehistory, medieval Lüchow and the duchesses in the castle, across several floors of the 22-meter tower, plus a panoramic view over the town.

Founded

1930

Operated by

Wendländischer Geschichts- und Altertumsverein von 1905 e. V. (Amtsturm: Stadt Lüchow)

Admission & discounts

Combined ticket for both exhibition areas (museum building and Amtsturm).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The exhibition in the museum building is barrier-free; the tower exhibition (several floors) is not.

Kids & families

Children and young people up to 14 years enter free when accompanied by an adult.

Getting there & parking

The museum building has two entrances (Johannisstraße 2-3 and the extended Burgmühlenweg); the Amtsturm stands in the Amtsgarten, about 50 meters away.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit